I have to say; this wine bottle and label looked extra fancy to me. Not only was I ready for the wine during this pairing; I was extra ready for the food as well. Apple and onion pork chops? Yum! Yes!
This wine was 100% Mencía which I had never heard of before, so I started my research there. First off, I had been referring to is as men-see-ah, and quickly realized that it was correctly pronounce men-thee-ah. This grape is grown only in Spain and Portugal. It is generally compared to the better-known grape, Pinot Noir, in that they both are medium-bodied red wines. While Mencía is often blended with another varietal, this particular one was not. *
The Castro Ventosa, or “The Windy Castle,” winery was founded in 1752 and continues to be run by the same family that established it so many years ago. The winery is located in the Bierzo wine region, which is nestled in a small valley. Here the grapes are hand harvested sorted within the vineyard. *
This wine was from Bierzo, Spain and sampled on July 11, 2018. The wine had a very rich red color to it. There was a strong sense of tobacco odor, which made me think my husband would really enjoy it. It was backed up by the scents of wet earth and dark red plums. I was listening to “Desperado” by The Eagles. At first the tannins gripped on for dear life, but then ended up subsiding easily. The taste was dry, but bold. This seemed like a red wine for people who love red wines. It paired nicely with the hearty pork chop dish.
I gave this wine a rating of 3.5. I enjoyed it quite a bit and ended up pouring myself a second glass. I couldn’t help but think that my husband would enjoy it so much more. I also tried this wine during a heat wave and I may have liked it more during the fall.
Sources: